How to convert String to Path?

[derei]

Hy, I'm trying to "learn" by doing something and I need some help.
I got the current model's path like this:

model = Sketchup.active_model
pth = model.path

and pth is returned as string, so I cannot do this:

pth = model.path.dirname

My question: how I can convert the returned string to path, so I can get model's directory?

Or is any easier way to get model's directory?

Thanks.

[TIG]

Use the 'File' methods...
` pth=model.path >> "C:/Temp/MySkip.skp"

if the file has never been saved it '' ! so trap for that??

folder=File.dirname(pth) >> "C:/Temp"
file_name=File.basename(pth) >> "MySkip.skp"
file=File.basename(pth, ".*") >> "MySkip"
ext=File.extname(pth).downcase >> ".skp"

OR

ext=File.extname(pth).upcase >> ".SKP"
file_path=File.join(folder, file+".txt") >> "C:/Temp/MySkip.txt"
f=File.open(file_path, "w")

opens/makes the file to 'w'rite to...

or 'r'ead, 'a'ppend, 'b'inary etc

f.puts("Hello word!")

f.close

important to close any open file as it's 'locked' by SUp/Ruby otherwise...`

[thomthom]

pth = File.dirname( model.path )

[Dan Rathbun]

@thomthom said:

pth = File.dirname( model.path )

On new unsaved model, model.path returns an empty string.

On an empty string, File.dirname("") returns ".", which usually means the current working directory (but is false really, as there is no actual path set for the model.)
Dir.getwd() will return the path for the current working directory (which is likely to be the user's HOME directory, when Sketchup first starts, if no other script has changed it.)
The HOME dir on Mac: ENV['HOME']
The HOME dir on Win: ENV['USERPROFILE']

So you test pth this way:

pth =( model.path.empty? ? nil ; File.dirname( model.path ) )
if pth
  # not nil, a valid path
  # do something here with the model path
else
  # model was not saved
  # perhaps save the model here
  # then do something else
end

[TIG]

As I explained in my earlier post
pth=model.path will be '' [an empty string] if the SKP's never been saved NOT nil, so a test like if pth will always return true because an empty string is not equivalent to false or nil ! so you need a if pth != '' test etc...

[Dan Rathbun]

@tig said:

... so a test like if pth will always return true

NOT if you use the conditional statement on line 1 of my code example, which will set pth to nil if the model.path.empty? test is true, otherwise the valid path will be referenced by pth.

There are many ways to do the same thing, here's another:

if model.path.empty?
  # model was not saved
  # perhaps save the model here;
  pth = "some/new/path/filename.skp"
  valid = model.save(pth)
else
  # it's a valid path
  pth = model.path
  valid = true
end
if valid
  # do some more stuff
else
  puts("Model save was unsucessful to path; #{pth}.")
end

[TIG]

So didn't spot your initial .empty? test.
Of course you could have avoided some more extra steps with a streamlined

if pth=model.path.empty?
  ### do stuff with an alternative path
else
  ### do stuff with 'pth' as it's not empty
end

[Dan Rathbun]

Isn't Ruby great! So many ways to do the same thing... we can all be happy and flexible.

phrase for today: COBOL SUCKS!

[thomthom]

@tig said:

So didn't spot your initial .empty? test.
Of course you could have avoided some more extra steps with a streamlined

if pth=model.path.empty?
>   ### do stuff with an alternative path
> else
>   ### do stuff with 'pth' as it's not empty
> end

### do stuff with 'pth' as it's not empty - incorrect. pth will have the result of .empty? - true/false.

[TIG]

Thomthom you are right!
Here is a fixed version

    if (pth=model.path).empty?
      ### do stuff with an alternative path
    else
      ### do stuff with 'pth' as it's not empty
    end